What can TM be thinking of?

Doesn't May have a point when Juncker is mocking the use of using the English Language before negotiations start.

Juncker tells audience, 'I'll speak French because English is losing its importance'.

www.independent.ie/business/brexit/brexit-row-juncker-tells-audience-ill-speak-french-because-english-is-losing-its-importance-35683449.html

Juncker may have a valid point but his intention was clear, mock the UK for Brexit. He looked at the audience with a smirk and knew he was making a broad side against the UK intentionally. The audience found it funny but I think some of the EU Parliament MEP's will be holding their heads in their hands.

As with the 'leak' this childish behaviour from the EU Commission representative Juncker proves Theresa May is correct and the irony is Juncker is so bloody stupid he is making the vote share for Theresa May probably increases every time he opens his mouth.

Juncker thinks English has lost its importance unless of course it is printed on our bank notes!

Juncker is a pathetic old fool. I bet behind the scenes others are going 'oh God, can't we remove him somehow?'

Alineandkicking You take the description dictator and apply it to the civil servants in the EU.
Which world are you living in? If you want to see what a dictator looks like then look at Turkey or North Korea and then over to Syria.
As far as I know the Eu has not imprisoned any journalists.

Fr Merkel is important because Germany foots the bills for a lot of things.
English has not lost its importance as a world language but it is no longer as important as it was.

And if you had the luck to be born in the Uk and grew up to speak Englsih then thats nothing to be proud about!

You can be proud of the other languages you have learned to speak and if there are none then keep quiet.

Why is it mocking to say English is becoming less important? It's true so why shouldn't he say so?

Trisher

It was the context with which his words were delivered, have you watched him?

He was mocking in his execution and if he wanted to speak in French all he had to do was speak in French!

I wonder what other countries who use English as there native language will think? Juncker is a fool .

With 27 countries, none of whom have English as their language, surely all he was doing was stating the obvious. I suppose you can take offence at that if you choose to but it does seem less than logical to do so.

This issue of language always makes me laugh. It is so old fashioned and emphasises yet again how backwards looking Brexiters are. We have never taken well to learning or speaking other languages and if Juncker was mocking well we probably bloody deserve it. English isn't as important as it once was and we should recognise this not bleat on because someone actually tells us so.

Who exactly is 'bleating on'?

The EU can speak in whatever language it pleases, perhaps German would be appropriate, or French! To be honest who gives a toss what language they adopt except the countries whose diplomats are not fluent in whichever it is they choose - dialogue with America could be difficult!! [shrug]

It's the UK that has always had problems with getting enough language speakers to work properly in the EU.
Why should the EU give in to our parochialism now?

Dialogue with the uS wold be fine niggly lots of US citizens speak Spanish.

In any case, the EU uses interpreters. Merkel can speak perfectly reasonable English, but usually prefers to speak German and uses an interpreter.

I doubt if there are many diplomats who don't speak English and another couple of languages.

There are 'official' EU languages - French, German and English. Most business is conducted in one of these languages. As so many countries teach English as a second language and are generally good at it they often use it in the Patliamentary chamber. I dare say it has quite a lot to do with America speaking English and many other countries having it as their second language.

Scary article. Is May a closet Kipper?

politics.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f5ab5efdb629954eb1b8df87b&id=ac4b4c417a&e=f5e4f66f33

While I'm sure a lot of Americans speak Spanish, by and large they are not renowned for their language skills particularly where 100% fluency is required, I would hazard a guess that fluency in the English language is going to remain as important as it ever has been in diplomatic circles whatever Herr Juncker thinks or says, after all he won't be there for ever, God willing!!

What about Ireland don't they matter.

And he's only being awkward because he can - and playing to his audience.

I see the EU lovers are again sticking up for Juncker. Carry on Juncker with your sarcastic remarks it will just give Theresa May a bigger majority in the general election. Thanks goodness we are leaving.

I see the EU lovers are again sticking up for Juncker.

Is that really intelligent debate?

Perhaps not but it's the truth.

I see the EU haters are criticising anyone or anything connected with the EU.
Just as true , no?

No it isn't Ninny. I am not an "EU lover" and saying that what Junker was saying is just common sense does not make me one. Your comment neither true nor does it add to any sort of debate.

Why do you think agreeing with the premise that the 27 countries - with no UK - none of whom have English as their language means that English is becoming less important to Europe is favouring the EU? That is quite a ridiculous statement when all he said was the truth.

38+ million US citizens speak Spanish. Not bad.

Why wouldn't the EU favour the EU ? Oops no they are "ganging up" and "bullying" , when they insist on following the rules, and won't roll over for TMay.